Anti-unscrewing system between a dispenser head and a container

ABSTRACT

A connection system between a dispenser head of a liquid and a container of a liquid includes a base area of a structure and a flange screwed tight onto the neck of the container. Free rotation of the structure is prevented by a resistant torque, but the base area of the structure is made in such a way as to allow the accidental rotation of the head without unscrewing the flange.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is an anti-unscrewing connectionsystem between the dispenser head and the container of a dispenserdevice of a liquid, e.g. trigger operated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Usually, the dispenser head, in which are housed the means that permitthe suction of the liquid and its outside dispensing, when operated bythe trigger, is connected to the neck of the container by screwing up.

This connection system is of very simple construction and the mostwidespread in the sector.

Nevertheless, above all during transport operations, the dispenserdevice is subject to repeated vibrations and sometimes occasionalknocks; these external factors affect the screwing up in the sense thatthey cause its release.

This fact is particularly undesired, due to the consequent loss ofliquid contained in the device.

An example of a dispensing device with an head suitable to idly rotateon a container is disclosed in EP-A-0097094; anyway, the joining systemdisclosed in such document has an high uncertainty on repeatability ofthe results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to make a connection systembetween the dispenser head and the container of a dispenser device, e.g.trigger operated, that overcomes the drawbacks spoken about withreference to the state of the art and satisfies the above requirements.

Such object is achieved by a connection system between a dispenser headof a liquid and a container of the liquid, comprising:

a base area of a structure of the head and a neck of the container;

a flange firmly screwed to the neck of the container, wherein unscrewingoccurs by applying an unscrewing torque, wherein the flange comprises anannular lip which engages the base area of the structure binding itaxially to the same;

wherein the free rotation of the structure is prevented by a torqueresistant to rotation developed by the contact of the base area of thestructure; and

wherein the base area of the structure is made in such a way that thetorque resistant to rotation is inferior to the unscrewing torque, toenable the accidental rotation of the head without unscrewing theflange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a section view of the dispenser device, whichintegrates the connection system according to an embodiment variation ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 shows a separate-part view of a dispenser head and of a closingflange of the device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a section view of a structure of the dispenser head in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 represents a section view of an intermediate body of thedispenser head in the FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows the dispenser device of the FIG. 1 with assembled parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached illustrations, by 1 has been generallyindicated a dispenser device of a liquid.

The device 1 comprises a container 2 for containing liquid to bedispensed, comprising a neck 4 defining a mouth for accessing the insideof the container. The neck 4 has a container axis X.

In particular, the mouth of the neck 4 is delimited by a support crown6, e.g., lying on a plane perpendicular to the container axis X.

The device 1 includes a dispenser head 10 associable with the container2, and in particular with the neck 4 of this.

The dispenser head 10 comprises a supporting structure 12 to which arevariably connected the head components.

The structure 12 comprises a structure body 14, elongated along thecontainer axis X, between a base area 15 a close to the mouth of thecontainer and an opposite summit area 15 b, spaced out along thecontainer axis X.

In particular, the structure 12, in the base area, is fastened to thecontainer by means of a connection system comprising at least aprotruding leg 16, overhanging from the structure body 14 along thecontainer axis X.

In the embodiment represented, a plurality of legs 16 are envisaged,arranged in a ring, angularly spaced out from each other.

The leg 16, at the opposite extremity to the structure body 14 fromwhich it overhangs, has an annular flap 18, protruding outwardsradially, so as to form a hook pattern.

In other words, the annular flap 18 consists of a radial relief towardsthe outside at the free end of the leg.

The annular flap 18 gradually slims down towards the bottom, meaningdistally from the structure body, so as to offer a limited contactsurface with the other components of the device.

In particular, the flap 18 is delimited on the bottom by a pair ofsupport surfaces 20 a, 20 b converging towards the bottom, each withtruncated cone shape, so as to create a thickness that slims towards theextremity.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support surface 20 b, which isturned towards the inside, forms an angle α with the direction of thecontainer axis X between 50° and 30°, preferably 40°. The supportsurface 20 a forms an angle β with the container axis.

Between the flap 18 and the structure body 14 an inter-space 22 iscreated.

The connection system between the dispenser head 10 and the container 2also comprises an intermediate body 30 comprising an annular supportbase 32, ring shaped.

Above the annular base 32, the intermediate body 30 also has an annularseat 34, suitable for accommodating the base area 15 a of the structure,and in particular the flap 18 of the legs 16.

Preferably, the annular seat 34 is counter-shaped with respect to theextremity of the structure, meaning shaped following the pattern of thetwo support surfaces 20 a, 20 b of the flap 18.

Preferably, the opening corner of the surfaces of the annular seat 34 isgreater than the angle formed between the support surfaces 20 a, 20 b ofthe flap 18, meaning the seat is more open than the extremity of theflap 18.

For example, in a preferred embodiment, the surfaces of the annular seatform angles between 50° and 30°, preferably equal to 45°, with thedirection of the container axis X.

Preferably, the intermediate body 30 comprises an annular outer definingwall 36, protruding axially from the annular base 32, on which faces thesupport surface 20 a of the annular flap 18.

Preferably, furthermore, the intermediate body 30 comprises an annularengagement wall 38, radially spaced out internally from the outerdefining wall 36, and preferably with greater axial extension.

Facing onto the engagement wall 38 is the other support surface 20 b ofthe annular flap 18.

By preference, the engagement wall 38 diverges as it moves away from theannular base 32.

Preferably, furthermore, in the proximity of the free extremity, distalfrom the annular base 32, the engagement wall 38 comprises an externalannular protrusion 40.

The annular seat 34 is arranged between the outer defining wall 36 andthe engagement wall 38.

According to a preferred embodiment furthermore, the intermediate body30 comprises an inner defining wall 42, protruding axially from theannular base 32, radially inside the engagement wall 38, arranged aroundthe through opening of the ring-shaped base 32.

Preferably, furthermore, in the proximity of the free extremity, distalfrom the annular base 32, the inner defining wall 42 comprises aninternal annular protrusion 44.

The connection system also comprises a closing flange 50 suitable forscrewing onto the neck 4 of the container 2.

As some laboratory tests have shown, the screwing torque of the flangeon the neck, i.e. the unscrewing torque, is generally comprised between30 N·cm and 120 N·cm, preferably between 40 N·cm and 90 N·cm, generallyequal to 60 or 50 N·cm.

The flange 50 comprises an annular side wall 52, having internalthreading and, by preference, on the outside, a knurled grippingsurface.

The flange 50 also comprises an annular lip 54, radially internallyprotruding from the side wall 52.

The lip 54 is flexible for interference with the base of the structure12; in particular, the lip 54 is flexible in the sense of being suitablefor expanding radially outwards.

E.g., the flange 50 has a crack 56, arranged radially outside the lip54, all around this, so that it is structurally weakened.

Preferably, furthermore, the lip 54 has an invitation chamfer 58, toinvite fitting the base area 15 a of the structure 12.

The connection system also comprises a crown-shaped seal support 60,flat.

The seal support is resting on the crown of the mouth of the container 2and on this rests the intermediate body 30 with its own annular base 32.

The dispenser head 10 is fitted on the intermediate body 30.

In particular, the base area 15 a rests on the neck 4, e.g., by means ofthe intermediate body 30.

In particular, the legs 16 of the structure 12 rest inside the annularseat 34, so the flap 18 is accommodated in the annular seat.

The engagement wall 38 penetrates inside the structure, so that theannular protrusion 40 is in contact with the inner surface of the leg 16of the structure 12, creating a hook.

The flange 50 is screwed onto the neck 4 of the container 2 and the lip54 is arranged in the inter-space 22 between the flap 18 and thestructure body 14.

The lip 54 has a radial extension inwards such as to radially passbeyond the outer defining wall 36, so as to engage with its portion theflap 18 to secure it axially.

In other words, the lip 54 pushes the flap 18 into the annular seat 34and keeps the intermediate body 30 and the seal support 60 on the neck 4of the container 2.

The dispenser head 10 also comprises operating means for dispensing theliquid outside. For example, the operating means comprise a trigger 70,connected to the structure 12, to rotate.

The dispenser head 10 also comprises means of suctioning the liquid fromthe container and for dispensing it outside.

For example, the suction and dispensing means comprise a pumping element78 consisting of a deformable diaphragm 80, supported in the structure12, and of a rod 82, sliding inside the structure 12, dragged by thedeforming diaphragm 80.

The diaphragm 80 is engageable with the trigger 70 to be deformed.

The membrane 80 delimits a pressure chamber 90, in connection with adispensing pipe 100 with outside outlet.

Preferably, furthermore, the dispenser head 10 comprises a nozzle 200,arranged at the extremity of the dispenser pipe 100, turnable to openand close the pipe.

Preferably, furthermore, the dispenser head 10 comprises valve means foradjusting the suction and the dispensing of the liquid.

Furthermore, preferably, the dispenser head 10 comprises a covering 110,supported by the structure 12, inside which are contained the suctionand dispenser means and the valve means.

The structure 12, though firmly connected to the container by thescrewing up of the flange 50, is in contact with the components, therotation of which is blocked, only on limited surface portions.

In particular, the flaps 18 of the legs 16 are in contact with the lip54 of the flange 50 only for the part of this protruding radiallyinternally from the outer defining wall 36.

Furthermore, the flap 18 is in contact with the bottom of the annularseat 34 only on a limited surface deriving from exiguous chamfers andfrom the deformation of the materials, inasmuch as the sloping surfacesof the annular seat 34 have different slope angles compared to thesupport surfaces 20 a, 20 b of the flap.

Furthermore, the contact between the engagement wall 38 and the frame islimited to the protrusion 40.

Consequently, vibrator phenomena or accidental knocks affecting thedispenser head cause the head to rotate with respect to the container;such rotation is not however transmitted to the flange, which remainsfirmly screwed onto the container neck.

Innovatively, the connection system according to the present inventionis particularly reliable inasmuch as it avoids or strongly limits theaccidental unscrewing of the flange.

Advantageously, furthermore, the connection system is releasable, toallow topping up the container or its replacement.

It is obvious that a technician in the field, in order to satisfycontingent requirements, could make changes to the dispenser device orto the connection system described above.

For example, the operating trigger, in a variation of embodiment, istranslatable to start the dispensing of the liquid

Such variations are also contained within the protection scope asdefined by the following claims.

1. A system for connecting a dispenser head having a body structure to aliquid container having a threaded neck and a longitudinal axis, saidsystem comprising: a base area on the body structure, facing the neck ofthe container; an intermediate body positioned between the base area ofthe structure and the neck of the container, said intermediate bodyhaving an annular seat which accommodates the base area, a flange firmlyscrewed to the neck of the container, wherein unscrewing occurs byapplying an unscrewing torque, wherein the flange comprises an annularlip which engages the base area of the body structure binding it axiallyto the same; whereby free rotation of the flange is prevented by atorque resistant to rotation developed by contact between theintermediate body and the base area of the body structure; and whereinthe torque resistant to rotation is less than the unscrewing torque, topermit accidental rotation of the head without unscrewing the flange,the annular lip of the flange presses the intermediate body towards theneck and the base area into the annular seat of the intermediate bodyand the intermediate body comprises an outer defining wall, radiallypositioned outside the base area, and on which the annular lip acts, andthe annular lip has an inward radial extension extending beyond theouter defining wall to also engage the base area.
 2. System according toclaim 1, wherein the base area comprises a number of angularly spacedlegs.
 3. System according to claim 2, wherein each said leg comprises aflap protruding outwards radially, in contact with the lip of theflange.
 4. System according to claim 3, wherein the flap has, at itsextremity, a pair of converging support surfaces.
 5. System according toclaim 4, wherein the converging support surfaces of the flap form anangle of 30° to 50° with the longitudinal axis of the container. 6.System according to claim 5, wherein the converging support surfaces ofthe flap form an angle of about 40° with the longitudinal axis of thecontainer.
 7. System according to claim 6, wherein the annular seat ofthe intermediate body has divergent sloping sides, to accommodate thebase area.
 8. System according to claim 7, wherein the divergent slopingsides of the annular seat form an angle of 30° to 50° with thelongitudinal axis of the container.
 9. System according to claim 8,wherein said angle of the divergent sloping sides of the annular seat isabout 45°.
 10. A dispenser head for a liquid container having a threadedneck, said dispenser head comprising an upper body having a base facingthe container, said base comprising a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced legs, each leg having a top surface and a pair of convergingsloping surfaces at a bottom thereof, an intermediate body positionedbetween the upper body and the neck of the container, said intermediatebody having an annular seat facing the upper body, in which theconverging sloping surfaces of the legs seat, and a flange which can bescrewed onto the neck of the container to secure the head to thecontainer, and unscrewed therefrom by applying a predeterminedunscrewing torque, said flange having an annular lip which engages thebase of the upper body and the intermediate body, drawing the legs ofthe upper body into contact with the annular seat on the intermediatebody, so that free rotation of the main body is resisted by a resistancetorque, said seat and said sloping sides of the legs having anglesselected so that said resistance torque is less than said unscrewingtorque, to keep accidental rotation of the head from unscrewing theflange.